[Cipe]

Still fresh, single, and willing to mingle. Enter Epic Marathon custom build.

FSA Carbon face stem
FSA Carbon handlebar
Shimano XTR Hollowtech II Crankset '06
Shimano XTR Front Derlr '06
Shimano XTR Titanium 9sp Cassette '07
Shimano XTR Rear Derlr '07
Shimano XTR Rapidfire Plus Shifters F&R '06
Shimano XTR 9sp chain '07
Magura Marta SL Disc Brakes/Levers F&R '07
Mavic Crossmax SL Disc UST '06
Hutchinson UST Python
Fox F100 X 2007
Chris King Threadless red
E.S.I. grips
Crank Bro Egg Beater Ti
Thomson Elite Seatpost (stock)
Fizik Gobi Gold 2006
2007 Specialized Epic Marathon frame (S)

Getting all the parts shipped was a clean downhill ride, but getting them all together in epicville was a little bit bumpy when I almost lost my patience tweaking Magura. My analog fishscale shows 23-3/4 lbs., and LBS shows scale of barely 24 lbs.

 

[gateCrasher]

Looks good! I'm building out a marathon also. I don't have the same components as you though. Geez...all XTR, my wife would take all the credit cards away.

/gC

 

[Cipe]

Looks good! I'm building out a marathon also. I don't have the same components as you though. Geez...all XTR, my wife would take all the credit cards away.

/gC

Good luck on that one. You gotta love the benefit of a bike with your own components. Some of these XTRs are still on my credit card.

I had my chance taking my bike this weekend for the first time, and I'd say the overall performance was superb. I beat my record on a 10.3 mile loop in less than 3 mins. I gained about 1-3 mph climbing uphills, and cornered effortless. Bumpy downhill was a little bit tricky considering the Brain was active all the time - It felt so soft and my tires weren't sticking to ground. I guess I have to add more Rebound and more air.

 

[gateCrasher]

Well, I'm taking a lot of the parts off my stumpy. The only problem is, those parts so far include:

wheels/tire/cassette/chain
brakes
stem
bars

Pretty much everything else, I had to buy. I think I just approval for some new wheels, but didn't get a firm price from the wife.

Anyone have some suggestions that won't break the bank? I'd like to exclude any "system" wheels. I'm running Crossroc's now, but I think the bearings are shot and it doesn't look like I can replace them.

/gC

 

[Altimeter88]

Awesome setup. I am looking at doing very close to the same thing. Where did you get your stuff from. I am trying to find the best deal on XTR and XT components and it looks like ebay is the cheapest for new stuff. If you have any suggestions on where to get the whole package let me know. Great looking bike!!!

 

[Andino]

lol love the before and after pics

 

[gateCrasher]

Change in plans for me. I ended up keeping only the bars, stem, and headset from my old bike. I topped everything off with a new set of I-9 All Mountains. This is my final build:

/gC

 

[vboy19]

Good luck on that one. You gotta love the benefit of a bike with your own components. Some of these XTRs are still on my credit card.

I had my chance taking my bike this weekend for the first time, and I'd say the overall performance was superb. I beat my record on a 10.3 mile loop in less than 3 mins. I gained about 1-3 mph climbing uphills, and cornered effortless. Bumpy downhill was a little bit tricky considering the Brain was active all the time - It felt so soft and my tires weren't sticking to ground. I guess I have to add more Rebound and more air.

Did you have trouble bleeding the Macgura brakes? My dealer is advising against it. I am getting an s-works epic and want to swap out the new xtr.

 

[Cipe]

Did you have trouble bleeding the Macgura brakes? My dealer is advising against it. I am getting an s-works epic and want to swap out the new xtr.

Bleeding the Magura brakes wasn't bad at all. Just a little challenge for my mechanic. It would be the best idea (I know magura lovers would agree) if you install magura over xtr for your upcoming s-works. Personally, I havent tried the xTR, but Magura brakes engage like a car brakes with ABS. It's so soft without any locking upon engagement. But of course, you can lock the wheel if you need to.

Awesome setup. I am looking at doing very close to the same thing. Where did you get your stuff from. I am trying to find the best deal on XTR and XT components and it looks like ebay is the cheapest for new stuff. If you have any suggestions on where to get the whole package let me know. Great looking bike!!!

The whole package was ordered from separate stores and one of them is ebay. Front derailleur is from fullcycles.com. Rear der and shifters are from chainreactioncycles.com. Cassete, chain and crankset are from wheelworld.com. The rest of the stores are bobs-bicycles.com, pricepoint, ebay, and LBS. Picking components among the stores for the best deal was time consuming but it was very worthy money wise.

lol love the before and after pics

that proves me a bike nerd

 

[Cipe]

Change in plans for me. I ended up keeping only the bars, stem, and headset from my old bike. I topped everything off with a new set of I-9 All Mountains. This is my final build:

/gC

Looks nice, I see you got xtr crank too. We have the same tire. The tire itself is fast and corners like it's nothing. I'm trying to figure out your wheelset. I like them red spokes.

 

[BeanMan]

Cipe,

Doesn't the headset on the 07 epic marathon have an integrated headset? If so how can you use a Chris King headset?

Nice Bike,

BeanMan

 

[MrEconomics]

^ no. My custom build used Ritchey WCS.

 

[eldogo]

Cipe,

Doesn't the headset on the 07 epic marathon have an integrated headset? If so how can you use a Chris King headset?

Nice Bike,

BeanMan

Specialized uses an integrated headset only on the carbon SW and Marathaon